Sterilizing attachment for water-supply pipes



April 21, 1925.

W. S. BACHMAN' STERILIZING ATTACHMENT FOR WATER SUPPLY PIPES Filed March 20, 1922 Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES QFFICEJ...

WALT-ER S. BACHMA-N, CHICAGO; ILLINOIS.

STERILIZING ATTACHMENT FOR WATER-SUPPLY PIPES.

Application filed March 20, 1922.

full, clear, and exact description thereof,

reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to in-iprovenients in sterilizing attachments for water supply pipes and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthc appended claims.

lhe object of the invention is to provide a simple and effiicient water sterilizing device, which may be quickly and easily interposed in any water supply pipe line, and which will operate auton'iatically to discharge a small quantity of sterilizing agent into the water flowing through saidpipe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is cheap and economical to manufacture and'which may be readily charged'with the sterilizing agent when first installed and also may be recharged when the sterilizing efficiency of the agent has been exhausted;

Theseand other advantages of thenovel sterilizing attachment will appear more fully as-I' proceed with my specification.

in the drawings Figure 1 is-a view representing a side elevation of a sterilizingattachment embody ing the invention, interposedin'a water pipe line connected to a drikingwiater filter;-

Figure 2 is a view representing, on an enlarged scale, a vertical entral section through the sterilizing attachment;

Figure 8 is a view representing, on still further enlarged scale, a transverse section through a pipe contained in the sterilizing attachment, in a plane indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings :5 indicates a water supply pipe line and 6 indicates the improved sterilizing attachment. As shown in the drawings, the pipe 5 supplies water to a filter 7 but as will be apparent, the invention is not limited to use in connection with a driking water filter,

Serial No. 544,982.

and may be used in other places when its characteristic operation makes its use advantageous. The filter has a discharge pipe 5 githaiaucet 8 to control the fiow from the liter.

The sterilizing attachment consists of a vertically elongated tubular casing or shell 9, adapted to contain a charge of the steril zmg agent and 01 a pipe 10 extendmg through the interior of said casing,tl 1e pipe 10 being provided with one or more screened openings 11 through which a small amount of the sterilizing agent is admitted to the water which passes through said pipe.

The casing 9 is made of non-corrosive metal and is of such diameter and height as con'ipared to the diameter of the pipe 10. that it will contain a sufficient charge of the sterilizing agent to last-for a considerable length of time, without the necessity of recharging. The pipe 10 as shown is the same diameter as that oi the pipe 5, to which the sterilizer isattached.

The casing 9 is open at the top. 12 indicates a flat disc having an aperture 13 in which the pipe 10 is fixed in any suitable or welhknown manner. The disc 12 provides a closure for the top of the casing 9 and is removably secured thereto by any conveni nt means. As shown, this means consists of swing belts lat pivoted to ears 1.5 on the casing adapted to engage in notched, projecting lugs 16 on the disc 12, so that fly nuts 17 on said bolts will act to draw the disc tightly against the top of the casing, a gasket 18 being intcrposedto make the closure water-tight.

The casing 9" has a reduced, internallythreaded end 19 into which the pipe is threaded. A nut and washer 2O locks the pipe against turning movement and makes a water-tight connection atthis point.-

The pipe 10 is provided with one or more holes or openings 11 to permit a small inflow of the sterilizing fluid from the casing 9 to the water in the pipe 10. As shown,

these openings are each protected by a screen 11 made preferably of filter stone or other composition which will permit of a small flow of liquid. Said screen is secured in a metal thimble l1 which is threaded into the opening in the pipe 10.

The pipe 10 is connected at the top, above the casing 9, by a fitting 21 to the pipe 5, and at the bottom, below the casing 9, by a fitting 22 to a pipe 5 connected to the filter 7. A shut-ofl' valve s3 above the fitting 21, permits the water supply to be out off when the sterilizing attachment is being installed in the first instance and when it is being later recharged.

able, threaded plug 25, for filling it with the sterilizing agent. r r

The operationv of the attachment is as follows :The casing 9 is charged with the sterilizing agent in liquid form'by-filling it through the opening 24. The attachment is then connected in position as hereinbefore described. The sterilizing fluid, after a balance of pressure is attained between the fluid in the casing 9 and the water in the pipe 10 (by reason of the connection between the two through the porous openings of the screens 11 appears to fill the porous screens 11"-.

The sterilizing agent preferably used is a weak chlorine gas solution. Upon the flow of water through the pipe 10, as when the faucet 8 is turned on, a minimum amount of the sterilizing element is drawn through the porous screen or screens 11 (whether by aspiration or otherwise is not thoroughly understood) and is absorbed by the Water flowing through said pipe, to an extent sulficient to thoroughly sterilize the water. The number and size of the screened openings depend upon the cross-sectional area of'the pipe 10 and of the normal intended rate of flow of water therethrough and may be determined by experiment.

The thimbles l1 carrying the screens of filter'stone, being removable, may be removed and replaced when the porous screens become filled so as to obstruct the required limited flow of the sterilizing agent into the pipe 10.

lVhile in describing the invention I have referred to the several details of mechanical construction and arrangement as illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. A sterilizing attachment adapted to be interposed in a water supply line, comprising a casing closed at both ends and adapted to contain a sterilizing agent, a pipe extend- The casing is provided with an lnlet o-penlng 24, closed by a remov-- ing through said casing and through the closed ends thereof, which casing provides a closed chamber surrounding a part of said pipe, that part of said pipe between the closed ends of said casing having one or more holes therein, and a screen of porous material closing each of said holes.

2. A sterilizing attachment adapted to be interposed in a water supply line, comprising acasing containing a sterilizing agent, a pipe extending therethrough, means for closing the ends ofsaid casing upon said pipe to provide a closed chamber surrroundmg said pipe, said pipe being provided with one or more holes in its length within said chamber, a thimble threaded in said hole, and a screen of porous material fixed in said thimble.

3. A sterilizing attachment adapted to be interposed in a water supply line, comprising an elongated casing open at the top, a removable closure attached water tight to the top of said casing, a pipe extending through and fixed in said closure, said pipe extending through said casing, means providing awater-tight, removable joint connecting said pipe to the bottom of said casing, said pipe being provided with one or more holes in its length within saidcasing,

and porous-screen closing each of said holes.

- 4. A sterilizing attachment adapted to be interposed in a water supply line, compris ing an elongated casing open atthe top, a removable closure attached water-tight to the top of said casing, a pipe extending through and fixed in said closure, said pipe extending through said casing, means providing'a water-tight, removable joint connecting said pipe to thebottom of said casing, said pipe being provided with one or more holes in its length within said casing, a removable thimble fixed in each of said holes, and a screen of filter stone fixed in each thimble.

In testimony that I claim the following as my invention, I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 17th day of March, A. D. 1922.

' lVALTER S. BAOHMAN. lVitnesses:

CLARENCE E. Mm-rnnorn, T. H. Anrnnns. 

